A Cambridge lawyer lost three stone and spent weeks in a critical care unit after doctors nearly missed a serious sepsis infection.

The family of Alex Davenport, 31, were told his condition was "touch and go" following surgery to remove a leg abscess.

The specialist military injury lawyer was forced to take months off work after being discharged from hospital while further complications delayed his recovery.

Alex is sharing is story ahead of World Sepsis Day on September 13 to stress the need for more awareness of the disease and its affects.

An infected abscess that triggered the sepsis infection

He was first admitted to Leighton Hospital, Crewe, despite initially being turned away, in August 2015.

Alex had a history of a recent abscess in his arm which had been surgically removed at West Suffolk Hospital, along with symptoms indicative of a serious infection, including soreness and tightness down the back of his leg.

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With his temperature soaring to over 40C, Alex's health deteriorated rapidly and he had surgery on his leg to remove a further abscess on the back of his leg.

His family and girlfriend, now fiancée, Sarah Wealleans, who is also a lawyer for Irwin Mitchell in Cambridge, were warned his condition was serious as he was transferred to critical care after the operation.

Sepsis is triggered by the way the body responds to germs, such as bacteria, getting into the body. The infection may have started anywhere in a sufferer’s body, and may be localised or widespread.

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It can occur following chest or water infections, problems in the abdomen like burst ulcers, or simple skin injuries like cuts and bites.

Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Alex needed surgery to remove an abscess from his leg

"I initially thought I was suffering from muscle tightness down the back of my leg and didn’t think much of it," explained Alex. "However, when my body showed signs of infection my health deteriorated quickly and steeply."

"I don’t remember much of my time in hospital due to the high amounts of painkillers I was on, but one thing that has stayed with me is the support my family and Sarah gave me during what must have been an incredibly difficult time for them.

"It has only been from speaking with them and my doctors since my discharge that I was able to realise quite how serious my condition was."

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Alex remained in critical care for almost three weeks, and lost close to three stone as a result of the infection which required the insertion of a feeding tube and a strictly controlled diet.

Following his discharge from hospital, Alex was off work for three months and suffered further complication as a result of the sepsis.

It is only in the last six months that he has returned to near-full health following the impact the infection took on his body.

Alex spent weeks in critical care

Alex said: “I hope that by speaking out about my experience, I can help raise awareness of the disease."

“I would also like to take the opportunity to praise the work of the fantastic nursing staff of the critical care unit and the surgical staff at Leighton Hospital who were amazing throughout and without whose help I would not be here today.

"However, the fact I was initially turned away by the A&E department still worry me as the outcome could have been drastically different.

"I know I am one of the lucky ones, that sepsis was diagnosed and treated early enough to prevent a truly devastating outcome. Many people will not be so lucky.

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"At Irwin Mitchell, through our close work with The UK Sepsis Trust, we have seen the urgent need to promote the signs of sepsis and provide early care in the UK.

"I hope that World Sepsis Day will raise vital funds to save thousands of lives and improve the outlook for all of those affected, like me."

A spokesman for the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Leighton Hospital, said: "We cannot comment on individual cases, but patient safety is our utmost priority and we are continually looking at quality and safety improvements.

"The recognition and treatment of sepsis is currently one of our key areas of focus and, as such, the trust appointed a sepsis specialist nurse in 2016. As a result of this, staff awareness, education and training surrounding sepsis have significantly improved, as has the number of patients screened for sepsis.

"As a trust, we now endeavour to screen everyone who presents to our emergency department for sepsis. This includes observations and looking for the signs and symptoms. If sepsis is suspected, we follow a sepsis management plan that is in line with national NICE guidance.

"This management is known as the ‘sepsis six’ and includes three treatments (giving antibiotics, fluids intravenously and, if levels are low, oxygen) and three tests (taking blood cultures, blood samples, and monitoring urine output). We also perform diagnostics to establish the source of any infection."

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